Shiraito Waterfall (Shiraito-no-taki [白糸の滝])

Karuizawa / Mt Asama, Nagano, Japan

About Shiraito Waterfall (Shiraito-no-taki [白糸の滝])


Hiking Distance: about 600m round trip
Suggested Time: 30 minutes

Date first visited: 2023-07-07
Date last visited: 2023-07-07

Waterfall Latitude: 36.41044
Waterfall Longitude: 138.59251

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Shiraito Waterfall (shiraito-no-otaki [白糸の滝]; “White Thread Falls”) was an impressively wide spring-fed waterfall stretching some 70m in width and about 3m in height over that stretch.

Not to be confused with the similarly-named waterfall on the slopes of Mt Fuji, this particular one was located near Karuizawa.

Karuizawa_Shiraito_074_07062023 - The Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall in the Nagano Prefecture
The Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall in the Nagano Prefecture

Karuizawa is typically an upscale ski resort that well-to-do people from Tokyo would go to, especially since there’s public transportation to get here.

However, in the Summer (we showed up in July 2023), it seemed like this waterfall was one of the main draws to the resort as we easily shared this place with maybe around a hundred others.

Indeed, even though we self-drove here, it’s possible to take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Karuizawa Station, and then take the bus from there to this waterfall’s car park for a 5-minute walk.

I’d imagine the convenient access further exacerbated this place’s popularity though we also encountered plenty of self-drivers as well (given how busy its car park was).

Karuizawa_Shiraito_030_07062023 - It was quite the zoo when we showed up to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls during our July 2023 visit
It was quite the zoo when we showed up to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls during our July 2023 visit

There were also tour buses to add to the tourist crush so indeed, this is not the kind of place to be seeking a true back to Nature experience.

Speaking of the Nature, the Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall’s spring is fed from precipitation falling into Mt Asama before seeping underground into aquifers.

It’s said that it takes 6 years for the water to travel through the groundwater system before re-emerging as springs at this waterfall.

Therefore, it’s also said that this stream never dries up (even in the icy winter months) because the water’s temperature tends to stay constant at 11.8 degrees C.

Karuizawa_Shiraito_066_07062023 - Looking towards the far left side of the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls, where there were still more to its wide drop to be seen
Looking towards the far left side of the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls, where there were still more to its wide drop to be seen

It’s believed that this relatively warm water temperature for a mountain stream is largely due to geothermal heating around Mt Asama, which is still geologically active.

As for experiencing the Shiraito Falls, from the car park (see directions below), it was a mere 200-300m walk in each direction to the viewing area.

The walk pretty much followed along the stream, and its constant moisture gave rise to walls of ferns pretty much lining the entire walk.

Meanwhile, the car park itself had a pretty happening food stand and toilet facility so it definitely felt like one of the more commercialized waterfalls that we’ve been to.

Karuizawa_Shiraito_081_07062023 - The outflow of the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls on the far right side also had more springs feeding into the  over a pedestrian bridge over the Egawa River on the way to the Ryumon Waterfall from the spillover parking lot we had parked at
The outflow of the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls on the far right side also had more springs feeding into the over a pedestrian bridge over the Egawa River on the way to the Ryumon Waterfall from the spillover parking lot we had parked at

Anyways, our visit was pretty short and sweet as we spent less than an hour away from the car, but of that time, I’d bet barely 15 minutes of that time was spent walking.

Finally, I did notice signage mentioning that there are other waterfalls in the Karuizawa vicinity such as Sengataki (千ヶ滝) and Ryugaeshi (竜返しの滝).

However, on our July 2023 visit, we just focused on the Shiraito Waterfall, and perhaps on the next visit, I’ll have the time to pursue the others and do a write-up about them.

Authorities

The Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall resides near the town of Karuizawa in the Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It may be administered by local authorities from Karuizawa. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the Karuizawa Tourist Association website.

Karuizawa_Shiraito_006_07062023 - Approaching the food stands at the start of the short walk up to the Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall
Karuizawa_Shiraito_008_07062023 - Looking up at the start of the walkway leading up to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Karuizawa_Shiraito_010_07062023 - Closeup look at the food stands adjacent to the toilet facility at the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Karuizawa_Shiraito_089_07062023 - Looking back at the toilet facility and part of the food stand fronting the start of the walk to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Karuizawa_Shiraito_090_07062023 - Closeup look at some skewered fish served up at the food stand in front of Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Karuizawa_Shiraito_013_07062023 - The waterfall's stream follows along the walkway leading up to the Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall
Karuizawa_Shiraito_020_07062023 - Continuing to follow the stream, which was lined with ferns on the way up to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Karuizawa_Shiraito_023_07062023 - There were lots of people along the walk to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls during our July 2023 visit
Karuizawa_Shiraito_026_07062023 - It became even more crowded the closer we got to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Karuizawa_Shiraito_042_07062023 - Our first clean look at the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls and its clear plunge pool
Karuizawa_Shiraito_044_07062023 - Looking downstream from the main viewing area just to show the extent of the springs still coming down into the stream
Karuizawa_Shiraito_067_07062023 - It seemed like the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls was its most crowded when there were tour bus crowds around, but when they're gone, it's still busy but at least it's less so
Karuizawa_Shiraito_069_07062023 - Closer look at the far left side of the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls
Karuizawa_Shiraito_074_07062023 - Looking along the main part of the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls in semi-long-exposure
Karuizawa_Shiraito_085_07062023 - Looking back at the lower cascades and springs of the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls in context with the main viewing area above
Karuizawa_Shiraito_091_07062023 - Making it back to the busy car park to conclude or brief visit to the Karuizawa Shiraito Falls


The Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall resides by the resort town of Karuizawa in the Nagano Prefecture.

Karuizawa is kind of a destination for a lot of visitors so in this part of the write-up, I’ll use this as the base of directions.

Drive_to_Karuizawa_Shiraito_042_MingSung_07072023 - There were quite a few toll roads in order to drive through the Onioshidashi Volcanic Park (with views of Mt Asama)
There were quite a few toll roads in order to drive through the Onioshidashi Volcanic Park (with views of Mt Asama)

In order to route to Karuizawa, there are numerous routing apps that you can use to get to this town from wherever you’re starting at (and this included Google Maps, which works in Japan).

In our particular situation, we were coming from the Yonako Great Falls car park, and it took us just under 2 hours to go the 73km distance.

In that stretch, we had to pass through Onioshidashi Volcanic Park, which meant we had to pay quite a bit in tolls (likely over 1000 yen worth).

Then, we had to pay another 500 yen to park at the Shiraito Falls.

Karuizawa_Shiraito_001_07062023 - The busy car park for the Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall
The busy car park for the Karuizawa Shiraito Waterfall

As for driving from the Karuizawa Train Station to the Shiraito Falls, first we’d have to drive north on the Route 146 for nearly 13km (there’s a toll booth about 2.5km from the station).

Then, we’d turn right onto the well-signed access road to the Shiraito Waterfall and follow it for the remaining 2.5km to the car park.

Overall, this drive should take no more than 30 minutes.

For some geographical context, Karuizawa was about 43km (an hour drive) south of Kusatsu Onsen, 92km (about 1.5 hours drive) southeast of Nagano, 131km (about 2 hours drive) east of Matsumoto, and 155km (about 2.5 hours drive) northwest of Tokyo.

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Long video starting with downstream consolidated cascades before continuing up to the main crowded viewing area with the long wide springs


Brief video showing width of main part of springs before going to the brink of consolidated cascades and showing the context of the crowded viewing area


Left to right sweep showing the far left side of the springs and the context of the main viewing area to the right of this viewing position

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Tagged with: karuizawa shiraito falls, karuizawa shiraito waterfall, karuizawa shiraitonotaki, karuizawa, shiraito falls, shiraitonotaki, nagano, asama, springs, japan



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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